Help understanding esim please

t_squared

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

silvercar

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

Some eSIMs can be used for calls, it depends on what you buy. eg O2 in the UK will sell you a contract that is provided by eSIM and comes with a phone number.

BFBW

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

Not quite right, but this is the issue that I highlighted earlier for when buying from these 3rd Party companies.
If the SIM is not registered with the network, some features won't be enabled. Hence my recommendation for buying the eSIM directly from the network. Once it's registered with your passport details, you get exactly the same features as a normal physical SIM. That is Calls/SMS/VoWiFi and a telephone number in addition to data.
The problem here is that people associate eSIM with these 3rd Party companies, so push them first. But better to get them directly from the network when possible.

Ballard

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

I suspect that had your eSIM included a telephone number, it would have been unlikely to have included international calls, so you’d probably have had to have used your UK number anyway. 

Doshwaster

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

You can get eSIMs with a local number but I tend not to bother as almost anyone I might want to speak to (and I generally go on holiday to get away from people!) would be on WhatsApp, FB Messenger etc.

I've never had the need for a local phone number in Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia as everyone is on WhatsApp or Line (which is the most popular messaging system there)

For calls to an actual phone number back home (e.g your bank) then I used to use Skype Out but that has now been retired but there are other VOIP apps such as Viber and Yolla so it is worth putting a few pounds credit on one them in case of emergency

jimi_man

Doshwaster said:

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

You can get eSIMs with a local number but I tend not to bother as almost anyone I might want to speak to (and I generally go on holiday to get away from people!) would be on WhatsApp, FB Messenger etc.

I've never had the need for a local phone number in Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia as everyone is on WhatsApp or Line (which is the most popular messaging system there)

For calls to an actual phone number back home (e.g your bank) then I used to use Skype Out but that has now been retired but there are other VOIP apps such as Viber and Yolla so it is worth putting a few pounds credit on one them in case of emergency

Agreed. I’ve never registered one with my passport details either, doesn’t seem to be any need. 

jimi_man

BFBW said:

jimi_man said:

To the OP.

Now all the bickering has finished, Airolo are good. Not the cheapest as you saw but not exactly expensive. And probably the most convenient as you can sort it out before you go. The first time you set it up it’s a little convoluted but every other time after that it’s easy. Just follow the guide. I’ve been using them for a couple of years. Sure you could probably save a pound or two by searching through little local back street stores, or you could pay a little more and do this. Maybe you could supply them for your daughter as a present and set them up beforehand so you know she’s going to be in contact?

It seems that you might have missed the point that most every other option posted here can be sorted before they go anywhere. In addition, there are massive differences in the amounts of data offered. 10GB for £28 with Airalo or 50GB for £14 via trip.com? 
As an aside, neither would be my choice, as I posted better options on the first page.
To which back street stores are you referring?  I see lots of links for buying eSIM much cheaper than Airalo or AloSIM.
Another thing not mentioned, is that you need to register SIM/eSIM in Thailand with your passport details. This can be done online via the network portals. If not done, certain features will not be available. This is one reason why the eSIM you buy from the companies such as Airalo and AloSIM only mention data, as unregistered SIM won't have full function and may not be able to make outgoing calls nor send SMS. VoWiFi may also be disabled. Buying an eSIM directly from the network will ensure that the eSIM is fully functional, as you register the eSIM at the same time.

Sure. But the OP asked specifically about using and setting up Airalo. Not Alosim, Trip or anything else or even what’s the cheapest eSIM. Hence my answer which was based on experience of using Airalo. If they’d asked about the cheapest way to get a local eSIM then I’d have given a different answer. 

FifiAnne

jimi_man said:

To the OP.

Now all the bickering has finished, Airolo are good. Not the cheapest as you saw but not exactly expensive. And probably the most convenient as you can sort it out before you go. The first time you set it up it’s a little convoluted but every other time after that it’s easy. Just follow the guide. I’ve been using them for a couple of years. Sure you could probably save a pound or two by searching through little local back street stores, or you could pay a little more and do this. Maybe you could supply them for your daughter as a present and set them up beforehand so you know she’s going to be in contact?

Thanks, yes, exactly this, in this instance convenience and peace of mind is worth more than saving £5 or £10. I want to pay and set it up for her before she flies.

BFBW

jimi_man said:

Doshwaster said:

t_squared said:

Yes, eSIM's are certainly very useful but there's one big drawback in their use.  As you may be aware, you do not get a physical phone number as they are data only; calls can be made via WhatsApp, FB for instance.  Here's my example:

Travelling around Thailand with an eSIM (Saily one in my case) in use we had an issue with one of our credit cards and needed to call our bank back in UK.  Of course, this isn't possible with an eSIM so I had to resort in using my the O2 SIM which cost me dearly to speak to the UK bank from S.E. Asia.

Also make sure the people you need to "speak" to have the necessary apps.

You can get eSIMs with a local number but I tend not to bother as almost anyone I might want to speak to (and I generally go on holiday to get away from people!) would be on WhatsApp, FB Messenger etc.

I've never had the need for a local phone number in Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia as everyone is on WhatsApp or Line (which is the most popular messaging system there)

For calls to an actual phone number back home (e.g your bank) then I used to use Skype Out but that has now been retired but there are other VOIP apps such as Viber and Yolla so it is worth putting a few pounds credit on one them in case of emergency

Agreed. I’ve never registered one with my passport details either, doesn’t seem to be any need. 

The need may be the ability to make calls to telephone numbers in the countries in which you are travelling. Whilst you may not have needed to do so, it takes away the ability to do so.
Sometimes I've needed to call an airline. How would you do that with only a data package? 
There has already been a case highlighted of someone needing to call their U.K. bank. With a True Tourist eSIM, calls to the UK are 1 baht per minute.(2.5p per minute) DTAC eSIM, 6 baht (14p per minute)


With Airalo, you won't have that option, so as you wrote, you would need to set up a separate calling application for any calls, including local calls. Topping that up before you leave the U.K.

BFBW

FifiAnne said:

jimi_man said:

To the OP.

Now all the bickering has finished, Airolo are good. Not the cheapest as you saw but not exactly expensive. And probably the most convenient as you can sort it out before you go. The first time you set it up it’s a little convoluted but every other time after that it’s easy. Just follow the guide. I’ve been using them for a couple of years. Sure you could probably save a pound or two by searching through little local back street stores, or you could pay a little more and do this. Maybe you could supply them for your daughter as a present and set them up beforehand so you know she’s going to be in contact?

Thanks, yes, exactly this, in this instance convenience and peace of mind is worth more than saving £5 or £10. I want to pay and set it up for her before she flies.

All of the options allow you to set them up before she leaves. It's nothing to do with the cost, but the functionality.
With a properly registered SIM/eSIM, she'll have a phone number, (together with the ability to call out and to receive calls), so that she's reachable by airlines or anyone who needs to contact her. Also the ability to send SMS and to utilise VoWiFi if necessary. To rely on only one method of contact(i.e. WhatsApp) isn't the best idea. Belt and Braces. It's not just the cost, but a more limited functionality, as the eSIM will not be properly registered.
With the likes of Airalo, you are paying for a Internet connection and nothing more. It's not a mobile phone service as you know it.
Perhaps more convenient to not have to register the eSIM properly, but the downside is that you get a truncated service. Saving £5 to £10 is completely irrelevant in this scenario.

90 day validity Thai eSIM(£15) with 100GB of data per month. Cambodia Roaming at £2.50 per 2GB/7 days. Vietnam/Cambodia Roaming 10GB at £15 for 15 days. Phone number(together with the ability to call out and receive calls)/SMS/VoWiFi and Data.

Compared to 10GB in total for 30 days with Airalo. No phone number, no ability to call nor receive calls outside Chat applications, no SMS and no VoWiFi other perhaps via Chat applications.
10GB is not a lot, so she will have to depend on local WiFi. I state that because I have an iPhone whilst travelling. Videos being uploaded and backed up to iCloud will eat up that measly data allowance of 300MB per day. 

Personally, I would do Thai eSIM directly from network and hit the ground running with one fully functional eSIM(Phone number/SMS/VoWiFi and Data) with enough validity to take me through the whole trip.

With Airalo, she will need to borrow someone's Hotspot or connect to WiFi somewhere at the arrival airport, in order to activate her eSIM. No connection until she does that.

Buying direct, you are immediately connected on landing and you won't have any issue with iMessages. That's not to state that Airalo won't work with iMessages, but if you don't have an associated number with Airalo, then at the very least you will have to change the settings to sending and receiving from her email address rather than a number.
How do you do that if the eSIM hasn't even been activated and she is still in the U.K?
So that cannot be set up until after she has landed, found a WiFi connection, activated the eSIM and then toggled the necessary settings in the hope that it will work.

Buying a properly registered eSIM means that she has a working number and data as soon as she hits a Thai network on landing.

Why would someone want or need a local number? Let's imagine that your daughter gets lost in a Koh Pha Nghan jungle. What phone signal would they trace? She has no phone number registered to Thailand.
Let's imagine that for some reason your daughter needed to make a police report, what number would she give them in order to contact her if necessary? Her U.K. number? 
Hospital? WhatsApp again?
Needs to call ahead to a hotel? Let's hope they answer Facebook calls... Not having one simply limits your options.

So indeed, none of these things may matter at all, until they do.

The main thing is that you understand the pros and cons, which is for what you asked. 

My choice would be to buy the local 90 day eSIM for £15 and top it up with perhaps 1000 baht in credit(£23). That will allow her to simply click a predetermined link in order to activate a Roaming package when she is ready to travel away from Thailand.
Simple, effective and fully functional on landing, with A LOT more data and eSIM validity days.
It's the voice of experience writing. Of course she can learn the hard way. Up to you, as often heard.